Jim Larranaga shares how his Final Four experience impacts Miami

Jim Larranaga is the only coach in this year’s event that is returning to the Final Four. It’s a first-time deal for the other three.

Sure, Miami is an unlikely regional champion as a five-seed, but they have nothing on Larranaga’s 2006 George Mason Patriots. Ironically, the 11-seeded Cinderella knocked off No. 1 overall seed UConn to advance to the Final Four. Larranaga is set to play the Huskies once again, but this time for a spot in the national championship game.

Larranaga revealed what his team needs to expect going from playing in a regular arena to the massive stadium that is set to host this year’s Final Four. Based on past experience with George Mason, there could be a learning curve to playing inside NRG Stadium in Houston.

“The venue is very different. You’re playing basketball in a football stadium. It’s very, very hard to communicate. It almost feels like you’re playing outdoors,” Larranaga said before leaving for the event. “So, it’s going to take some time for our players to adjust, but we get a chance to practice Thursday and Friday in the stadium. Hopefully, our guys will be very confident and comfortable on Saturday.”

NRG Stadium, the home of the Houston Texans, seats 72,220 fans. Miami’s Watsco Center can host only 8,000. Still, the same can be said about all the teams — no one has played in front of that intense of an atmosphere before.

When the NBA had to transition to the bubble for the 2020 playoffs, shooting percentages increased significantly across the board — and that wasn’t a fluke, according to a sports study done by Cal Berkeley in the same year. Those percentages went up because there were fewer visual distractions around them.

If NBA players have the edge in smaller gyms, so do college players. The study would also prove the opposite, playing basketball in an NFL arena is likely to lower each team’s shooting percentages.

“I feel like it’s a hooper’s gym,” Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, who also played in a Final Four with Kentucky, explained to The Ringer in 2020 about playing in the bubble. “It’s easier to shoot in there with [better] depth perception.”

That depth perception is thrown out of the window when you reach the Final Four. A sea of fans piled on top of each other is enough to distract anyone, especially on a tiny (in the grand scheme of things) basketball court.

Still, one team will have to overcome the unique atmosphere that only the Final Four can create. Larranaga’s experience gives Miami the edge in that aspect, but they’ve still got to play the game. UConn has proved its worth this tournament and is expected to take down the ‘Canes as they head into the weekend as a 5.5-point favorite in Vegas.

CBS’ coverage for the highly-anticipated matchup between the Hurricanes and Huskies will begin immediately following the conclusion of Florida Atlantic and San Diego State, which is set to tip-off at 6:09 p.m. ET on Saturday.